Hook for aircraft cargo-handling apparatus



Sept. 24, 1929. M. CASTRO 1,729,029

HOOK FOR AIRCRAFT CARGO HANDLING APPARATUS Original Filed Ont. 2, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIW II 15 W! 15' Hlmml mm yum W 12 1mm 15 mum:

gvmntot Manuel Uadro Sept. 24, 1929.

M. CASTRO HOOK FOR AIRCRAFT CARGO HANDLING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 2, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Manuel Casi/"0 Patented Se t; 24," 1929 PATaN T, OFFICE IAZNUEL cas'rno, or canon, onto HOOK FOB .OABGO-HLNDLING ALPABATUS original application fled October 2, 1928, Serial No. 809,861. Divided and this application filed November 3, 1928. Serial No. 817,059,

I My invention relates to apparatus for picking up and discharging cargo from aircraft in flight, and the present. invention is V a division of the subject matter set forth in 5 my prior application for patent for Cargo tioning the cargo to be picked u an for receiving. the cargo to be discharge and also includes elements operatively mounted on the aircraft, hereinafter termed the aircraft elements, for cooperating with the ground elements in picking up and discharging pick up means be secured to a cable which'ispermitted an extension of 84.3, 67.5, 50.6,

car 0.

1% fundamental requirement for the successful operation of such apparatus, is to impart to the cargo to be picked up from rest, the required accelerationso that it will attain the velocity or flying speedof the air-- craft without reducing the flying speed of .the aircraft to any considerable extent.

For example it is estimated that for an aircraft of. 2,000 pounds gross load (total weight lifted), and with" sufiicient excess power to climb 300 ft./min. there is available suflicient excess thrust to provide a force of approximately 97.5 lbs. at 70 M. P. H. flying speed, for use in imparting to the cargo being picked up from rest the necessary acceleration so that it will attain the desired, velocity.

Under these required to be covered by the cargo from the instant it is connectedwith the pick up means until .it attains the speed of the aircraft is as follows:

. Feet For 50 lbsjcargo, distance 84.3

' For 40 lbs. cargo, distance' 67.5

For 30 lbs. cargo, distance 50.6 For 20 lbs. cargo, distance 3.3.7 For 10 lbs. cargo, distance 16.0

In other words, it is necessary for the su c-v cessful operation of such apparatus that the 33.7 or 16.9 feet according to the load to be picked up, as aforesaid. 1

Accordingly the objects of the present inventlon include the provision of an improved book or pick up means, more particularly for the lmproved cargo handling apparatus for aircraft and the like of my aforesaid prior application, in which the aircraft elements include pick up means, a cable upon which the pick up means are secured, and yielding means for permitting the necessary extension of the cable for imparting the aforesaid acceleration to the cargo being picked up from rest. I

Further objects of the present invention include the provision inthe improved hook of means permitting an im roved and cooperating arrangement of t e ground elements and the aircraft elements of the apparatus. I Further objects of the invention include the provision in the improved hook of a novel safety connection between the cable and the hook, whereby if the pick up means become caught in: an immovable orvheavy object, the cable-will be released from the hook when the force on the cable thus exerted becomes greater. than a predetermined amount.

These and ancillary'objects are attained in the improved book for aircraft cargo handling apparatus andthe like comprising ment of which is hereinafter set forth in detail, and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which circumstances the distance f H illustrating the inpiroved hook in use with I Figure 1 is a agmentary-front elevation aircraft cargo han apparatus, and ready for automatic operation at night for discharging a cargo and argo;

Fig. 2, a fragmentary side elevation hereof picking up another illustratin "the improved hook in use with I includes t arrange panel 15 has mounted thereon upwardly exdischarging means as on line4-4, Fig. 3;

---section illustrating the combined cargo pick Fig. 5, an elevation view with portions in up hook and discharging means arranged with an auxilia shield actuator for permit- .ting operation t ereof only as a discharging 15.

means, the parts being arranged just at the instant of operation; and 7 Fig. 6, a view similar to Fig. 4, illustrating the parts thereof after the discharging means have been operated for releasing the cargo.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

The improved cargo handling apparatus e ound elements indicated generally at 10 m Figs. 1 and 2, and the aircraft elements indicated generally at 11 in all of the remaining figures of the drawings.

The ground elements 10 are completely illustrated and described in ,my aforesaid prior application, and are here illustrated and described sufliciently for the purpose of setting forth the preferred use of the improved hook hereof and include a circular track 12 mounted on a suitable foundation on the ground, or on a ground structure, or, on a' ship, and on which track are arran ed to roll Wheels 13 which are rotatahly mounted on and support a base frame 14; whereby the base frame 14 and the re maining ground elements may be rotated about a vertical axis for placing" the ground elements in the roper position with respect to the wind and t e aircraft from which cargo is to be handled.

The base frame 14 may be in the,- form of a cross, and may include axially and centrally intersectin panels 15 and 15' at the outer ends of eac of which the wheels13 are rotatabl mounted.

l referably at equal distances from and on opposite sides of the vertical axis, the base tending towers 16.

A car 0 receiving hopper 17 is preferably between the towers 16.

Between opposite sides of the hopper 17 and the towers 16, upwardly extending telescopic masts 18 are mounted on the base panel 15, and the vertical axes of the towers and the masts are preferably parallel and in the same plane.

A tipping receptacle 19, into which cargo is discharged, is mounted for rotation be tween the telescopic masts 18 about h0riz0ntal pivots 20 which are supported on the masts 18.. a

e hook and discharging Each telescopic mast 18 includes a lower tubular member. 18* within which an upper extensible member 18 is slidably mounted. A pulley 21 is journalled at the top of each tower 16.

One end of a rope or cable 22 is secured to the extensible member 18 within each tubu lar member 18", and each cable 22 passes out from the top of the tubular member 18, over the pulley 21, and longitudinally through a tower 16, and about a direction changing lpulley, not shown, at'the base thereof, to a oistlng drum, not shown, journalled in the base panel 15, where the other end of each rope or cable 22 is secured'to the drum; and the drum'is adapted in a well known manner for reversely winding and unwinding the ropes or cables 22 thereabout, for simultaneously raising and lowering the extensible members 18".

At the inside face of the'upper end of each extensible mast member 18", a cargo positioning platform 25 is mounted.

Above the platform 25, a cargo connecting cable guide book 26 is mounted on each mast member 18". A

A bag 27 containing parts of the cargo to be picked-up may be supported on each plat: form 25.

The cargo connecting cable 28 may extend horizontally from guide hook to guide hook, and downwardly therefrom to the bags 27 the guide books opening in a direction perpendicular to-the plane of the masts from one side of such plane.

For night operation, a beam search light 29 is mounted at the top of each extensible mast member 18 and arranged to be rotated about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the plane of the masts; whereby for night operation of theimproved cargo handling apparatus tlle'search lights 29 are adjusted so that their beams intersect on the vertical axis of the ground elements midway between the masts, at a predetermined distance above the .then horizontally extending connecting cable 28, so that the pilot of the oncoming aircraft may steer his craft by the intersection of the beams of the search lights. I A cable .30 is connected at its upper end 'with the tipping receptacle 19 at its lower end with a suitable preferably automatic retrieving drum -31 for manually tipping the receptacle 19. a

For day-time o eration, improved flag signals may be su stituted for the search lights29.

The tipping receptacle 19 preferably includes members forming a closed frame 35 which terminates in a chute 36.

A preferably wire spring fabric 37 is stretc ed entirely across the frame opening and secured to the frame members at the offside thereof; and a preferably wire sprin fabric 38 is stretched across the lower end 0 the frame opening and secured to the frame suitable ide rollers 61 in the bottom of the members at the on-side thereof, forming a aircraft usela'ge, and is manually removably pocket at 39 at the lower end of the receptacle connected with the combined pick up hook 19. into which cargo may drop and be deand discharging means 51, preferably by livered therein to the chute 36, and thence to means ofan enlarged head 62 formed on the the hopper 17. end of the cable 52-, and w ch head fits in a The upper end of the on-side fabric 38 side opening socket 63 inalshank 64 extending preferably extends free of the frame'at 40 from and normally secured to the pick up and therefrom upwardly to a position where hook and dischargin means. The cable is it is secured at the ends*of posts 41 provided first passed with a sli ing fit through an aperat the on-side of the masts for this purpose ture 65 in va ferrule 66 and the aperture 65 .7 and also for the pur ose of forming a sup-communicates at its outer end with an enbodiment of the ground members of my imupper end of the tipplng receptacle 19 down thereover,

' bag C will drop'directly into the hopper 17, 70 of t port for off-set bearing blocks 42 in which larged outwardly o ening socket 67 which the receptacle pivots 20 are preferably jourtightly but slidably ts over the outer end of naled. I the shank 64, thereby releasably retaining the 'As illustrated in Fig. 2, the tipping recepenlarged cable end head 62 in the socket 63. tacle 19 is provided at its lowe1 end 19 with The shank'64 extends as aforesaid outwarda counterbalance 19 slidably mounted on a" ly and coaxially with the longitudinal axis screw 19 extending downwardly from the of the pick up hook and discharging means 51, tipping rece tacle. which means includes a tubular connecting According y if a cargo bag C strikes the head 68 which is tapered at its outer end as upper end of the receptacle 19, and is dis at 69so that the outer surfaces of the ferrule charged tllGIGOIl, the cargo bag 0 Will eithef and the connecting head will merge with each drop into the pocket 39 and '0ut h1:011gh the other for permittlng the connecting cable of chute 36-into the hopper 17 or W111 rotate the the cargo to be picked up, to slide easily wardly to a position from which the Cargo The cylindric body of the outer end portion e connecting head 68 is internally depending upon the veloclty 'wlth whlch he threaded and an externally threaded releascargo bag C strikes thetippingirecep ing aw mountingplug 71 is screwed therein The foregoing constitute the preferred emt a, it bl longitudinal position.

The jaw mounting plug is provided with a proved carg0" handl1ng apparatus for threaded central aperture 72 therein, and in craft and the like. which is screwed the threaded outer end 7 3 :The aircraft members "of the lmproyed f 53, t f tubular spring jaws 75; whereby, cargo handling apparatus. In l de ll I I1- depending on the relative axial position of proved reel suitably mounted in the airth t b l i j e a d th l 71, th craft fuselage not shown, and the present 1111- end opening 76 of the jaws may be varied, and proved combined pick up hook and dischargth grip ing power of the jaws may be varied ing means 51, releasably connected to each by screwing the threaded end of the jaws in other by a cable 52. i the threaded aperture of the plug one way or The reel end of the cable "is releasably seth other, cured to the reel 50-, as is set forth in detail in Th nd of th hank 64 withi th t b my aforesaid prior application. lar connecting head 68 has formed therein a The reel 50 may include a cylindric bar'- groove 77, thus providing an outer releasing rel preferably provided at its ends with head 78 which ma be gripped by a varied. outwardly extending flanges 56, and the force as aforesaid y the spring jaws 75. flanges'may be the outer peripheral portions Accordingly, these jaws may be adjusted of end disks 57 for the reel barrel, which are so that if a force greater than 250 pounds for secured to the reel shaft 58 extending thereexample is applied upon the pick up hook through, and coaxial with the barrel. and discharging means opposite to the pull If the cable 52 becomes entirely unwound of the cable 52, the shank 64 will automati- A from the reel barrel by reasonof the fact that' call disconnect from the pick up hook and the pickup means has become hooked upon disc arging means, even though the cable has an immovable object, the reel end of the cable not been entirel unwound. will become disengaged from the reel, so that The automatic releasing of the reel end of the aircraft will not lose flying speed and fall the cable as aforesaid, and the automatic reor be otherwise damaged by the jerk on the leasing of the pick up hook and discharging cable 52.- I e j meansare essential for insuring that the air- The cable 52 is sufliciently long for being extended or payed out from the reel against a what force the pick up hook and discharging suitable unwinding reaction, in order that means may be subjected to. L the aforesaid acceleration maybe imparted to The threaded end 7 9 of a hook and jaw' the'cargo being picked up. mounting sleeve 79 is screwed into the con- The outer end of the cable 52 passes through necting head' 68, the other end of the sleeve craft will not lose flying speed regardless of 79 is tapered at 80 and terminates in a reduced portion 81 in which a threaded connector 82 of a discharging tong mounting bracket 83 is screwed.

A relatively short spring seat-and piston guide sleeve 84 is secured within the sleeve 79 adjacent the'tapered end 80 thereof and the interior surface of the guide sleeve 84 forms a guide for a hook carrying piston 85 slidable therein.

As viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, the upper end of the sleeve 79 is provided with a plurality of'longitudinally extending notches 86 for permitting hook arms 87 to extend therethrough from the piston 85, the'several hook arms being strengthened b sectoral 'webs 88 connecting the same outside of the sleeve The piston 85 is inserted Within a compression spring 85, one end of which reacts against-the inner end of the guide sleeve 84, and the other end of which reacts against the hook arms 87 to normally urge the piston and hook arms towards the connecting head 68.

Each hook arm 87 extends outwardly and upwardly as viewed in Fig. 3 and terminates preferably in a spoon end 89.

The mounting bracket 83 is preferably in the form of an outwardly opening U, and a pivot pin 90, at the base of the U adjacent the connector 82, forms a pivotal mounting for discharging tong arms 91 and 91', re-

spectively, the upper ends of which above I the pivotal mounting are pivotally connected with adjacent ends of links 92 and 92, respectively, and the upper ends of the links are pivotally connected each with one of the hook arms 87.

The lower ends of the tong arms 91 and 91' below the pivotal mounting are pro vided with laterally extending terminal hooks. 93 and 93, which in the position illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5, form a ring-like closure for the eye 94'of a cable secured to the cargo bag to be discharged.

Accordingly, when any of the hook arms 87 are moved downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 3, the tongs will be actuated to separate the terminal hooks 93 and 93, thereby releasing the same from the eye 94. For insuring the discharge of the eye 94 from the terminal hooks, a springpressed plunger 95 is mounted within the U opening of the mounting bracket 83.

The reelshaft 58 is journalled in a suitable reel mounting bracket 96, and the ends of the shaft extend outwardly therefrom, and a gear Wheel 97 is secured at one end of the shaft 58 and arranged to be selectively engaged by a drive pinion98 secured on a sliding stub shaft 99, which is slidably and 'rotatably mounted in a suitable U extension 100 of the-reel mounting bracket 96, so

that the driving pinion 98 maybeengaged and disengaged with the gear wheel 97.

- The outer end of the stub shaft'99 is provided with a removable drive crank 101.

A spring pressed pawl 102 is pivotally mounted on the reel bracket 96 for selective engagement with the gear wheel 97 for permitting either ratcheting of the reel shaft when the crank, 101 is rotated toreel-in the cable 52, or free rotation of the reel.

I For applying the necessary unwinding reaction to provide for the paying out of the cable 52 after hooking a cargo, a spring pressed brake shoe 103 is'suitably mounted in the frame 96,. and a lever pawl 104 is provided for selectively maintaining the brake shoe in or out of operative position.

An alarm hell not shown is mounted at the other side of the frame 96 and adapted to be rung by rotation of the shaft 58.

The improved cargo handling apparatus for aircraft thus described, is used for picking up and discharging cargo by arranging the ground elements as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and by paying out the cable 52 from the aircraft in which the reel 50 is carried, a suitable distance depending on the weight of the cargo C to be discharged, and which cargo is carried by the combined pick-up hook and discharge means 51, the discharge terminal hooks .93 and 93', as aforesaid, passing through the eye 94 connected with the cargo C to be discharged. 4

In the day-time the pilot on the oncomingaircraft guides the aircraft by fiyin between flag signals at the proper height, 518 frame 14 having been rotated so that the aircraft will fly preferably into the wind between the flag signals.

In night-time operation, the pilot steers his Y course by the intersection of the beams of the search lights 29.

The cable 52 will first strike the cable 28 connecting the cargos 27 to be picked up, and the reel cable 52 will be dragged over the transversely extending cargo connectin cable 28, untilone' of the spoon ended hoo 'arms 87 hooks against the transversely extending cargo connecting cable 28; when the first action of the moving combined pick up hook and discharging means striking the sta tionary cargo connecting cable 28, will be to i operate the tong arms 91 and 91 todischarge the cargo G into the tipping receptacle 19, from which it is delivered into the hopper 17 either through the chute 36, or by rotation of the upper end of the tipping receptacle depending upon'the velocity with which the extending cable 28* be payed out until a velocity has been imparted to the picked up cargo equal to the lVhen it is desired only to discharge a cargo,

a mushroom sleeve 106 is inserted over. the connecting head 68, for striking against a cable 28, which may be secured at one end and stretched between the ground element guide hooks; whereby as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the inverted bowl 107 of the mushroom sleeve 106 will prevent the hook arms 87 from engaging the cable 28, but the outer curved surface of the bowl 107 will strike and will slide over the cable 28' with sufiicient force to operate the tong arms 91 and 91 to discharge a cargo.

The sleeve 106 is inserted over the connecting head 68 by manually disconnecting the head 62 of the cable 52 from its socket 63 in the shank 64: by sliding the ferrule 66 away from the connecting head 68 and laterally disengaging the head 62 from the side opening socket 63, after which the sleeve 106 is positioned as illustrated in Fig. 5, and the cable is reconnected with the hook.

Novel subject matter disclosed but not claimed herein is claimed in my copending application, Serial Number 382,614, filed August 1, 1929.

I claim:

1. In aircraft cargo. handlingapparatus and the like, the combination of a hook for picking up acargo, a cable, and automaticallyreleasablemeans connecting the cable with the hook, the connecting means including means applying a gripping force of predetermined magnitude between the hook and the cable, and means for varying the magnitude of the gripping force.

2. In aircraft cargo handlin apparatus and the like, the combination 0 a hook for picking up a cargo, a cable, a shank, manually releasable means for connecting the cable with the shank, and automatically releasable means connecting the shank with the hook, the shank connecting means including means applying a gripping force of predetermined magnitude between the hook and the shank.

3. In aircraft cargo handlin apparatus and the like, the combination 0 a hook for picking up a cargo, a cable, a shank, manually releasable means for connecting the cable with the shank, and automatically releasable means connecting the shank with the hook, the shank connectingmeans including means applying a ripping force of predetermined magnitude tween the hook and the shank, and means for varying the magnitude of the gripping force.

4. In aircraft cargo" handling apparatus and the like, a combmed ick up hook and discharging means inclu ing a mountin member, a pick up hook slidably mount on the member, a discharge hook pivotally mounted on the member, and means operatively connecting the pick up hook with the discharge hook.

5,. In aircraft cargo handling apparatus and the like, a combined pick up hook and discharging means including a mountin member, pick up means operatively mounted on the member, discharge means operatively mounted on the member, and means operatively connecting the pick up means with the discharge means.

6. In aircraft cargo handling apparatus and 'the like, a combmed pick up hook and discharging means including a mounting member, pick up means slidably mounted on Y the member, discharge means pivotally mounted on the member, and means operatively connecting the pick up means with the discharge-means.

7. In aircraft cargo handling apparatus and the like, a combined ick up hook and discharging means inclu ing a mountin member, a pickup hook slidably, mounte on the member, a pluralitly of cooperating dischar e hooks operative y mounted on the mem er, and means operativel connecting the pick up hook with the disc arge hooks.

8; In aircraft cargo handling apparatus and the like, a combined pick up hook and discharging means includin ber, a pick up hook slida ly mounted on the member, a plurality of cooperating discharge hooks pivotally mounted on the member, and means operatively connecting the pick up hook with the discharge hooks.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

MANUEL CASTRO.

a mounting mem- 

